Posted 4 November 2025
How one skilled volunteer helped the Adult Dyslexia Centre bring their first charity video to life, and secure a new major donor as a result!
The Adult Dyslexia Centre (ADC) is dedicated to helping adults with dyslexia build confidence, develop skills and better understand their condition. ADC has supported its neurodiverse community for over twenty years through helplines, webinars, support groups and diagnostic assessments. Every year, they assist more than 1,000 adults, employers, parents and teachers.
As a small, volunteer-led charity they lacked the resources to create their first charity video, until they connected with expert volunteer videographer Javier Madinabeitia via our Volunteer Platform.
The Media Trust Volunteering Platform came at the perfect time for us
Christopher Owens, Trustee at ADC
ADC wanted to create its first charity video, a short one-minute piece that could introduce the organisation, its services and the people they support. The goal was simple: to produce an authentic, compelling film that could be used across social channels, fundraising campaigns and funding applications.
They didn’t need high-end production values; they needed guidance on how to script, film and edit a video that truly represented their work. They needed to know what to say on camera, how to structure scenes and how to showcase their people and services authentically.
So they signed up to the Volunteer Platform, hoping to be matched with a skilled, experienced volunteer who could help them create magic.
Through the Volunteer Platform, ADC was matched with Javier Madinabeitia, an experienced videographer. From the outset, Javier provided hands-on mentorship, guiding the charity through every stage of the project.
The process included multiple Zoom planning sessions, continuous support via email and WhatsApp and an in-person filming day this summer. Javier helped the team set realistic timelines, refine the script, select participants for on-camera segments and plan each scene. On the day of filming, he worked closely with the ADC team, showing them how to get the best shots and ensuring the final footage was both professional and authentic to them.
The video quickly became a powerful tool for ADC. Within a month of being published, it was the most viewed content on their YouTube channel. It also helped secure additional funding, including a new major donor and has been shared as part of funding applications and a new Individual Giving campaign.
Beyond measurable outcomes, the project built confidence and knowledge across the charity. Trustees, staff, and volunteers gained hands-on experience in video production, communication planning, and storytelling, creating a lasting impact on both individuals and the organisation as a whole.
The partnership with Javier continues, with plans for a series of additional videos highlighting the experiences of dyslexic adults. Javier has also suggested creative storytelling approaches, such as using poetry as a narrative tool.
ADC is also exploring further support from Media Trust to grow its digital marketing capabilities to reach more people in need.
This has opened doors for future creativity and has equipped our team with skills and confidence that will stay with us long after the project.
When we asked Christopher what he’d say to charities considering signing up our Volunteer Platform, his advice was simple: “Do it! The outcome was far better than we imagined. Volunteers bring invaluable skills and guidance to smaller charities, and this experience has truly enhanced our team and our work.”
So, if you’re feeling inspired by this story and want to get matched with a media volunteer of your own, you should register for the Volunteer Platform today!
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